Fire Alarm Installation at ELeather, Peterborough

ELeather is a pioneering creator of sustainable, engineered leather. Taking unused leather from tanneries that would otherwise be sent to landfill, the company transforms it into high-quality products for a range of sectors worldwide.

A partnership with one of the world’s leading performance footwear brands saw ELeather recruit Winvic, a multidiscipline construction specialist, to build a new factory for the manufacture of athletic training shoes. And of course, this purpose built facility required the full spectrum of fire safety infrastructure to ensure both staff safety and regulatory compliance.

One year before the new site was scheduled to open, Britannia Fire & Security Ltd was commissioned by electrical contractor EBM Electrical to manage design and installation of the new fire alarm system.

Plans for the site featured a large production area, as well as an office located at the front of the building. British standards require that companies fit fire alarms throughout, as well as a site-wide aspirating solution capable of detecting smoke particles in any location.

Both buildings presented Britannia Fire & Security Ltd with unique challenges. Very high ceilings in the production areas, as high as 19 metres in some places, meant installing pipework demanded the use of specialised equipment and personnel. Further, ongoing maintenance requirements meant devices needed to be accessible, allowing for the regular testing regime recommended by industry regulators.

Finally, ease of use and integration were crucial. As a commercial operation featuring a mix of both open and closed spaces, as well as the use of heavy machinery, the solution needed to connect with a wide range of external systems to ensure advanced safety features would activate in the event of a fire alarm.

Following a full review of the site’s footprint and usage, Britannia Fire & Security Ltd concluded that the quality and innovation provided by Gent technology represented the best solution for ELeather’s new facility. The two companies then closely collaborated during planning, specifying a bespoke system to ensure safety and compliance across the entire site.

During this stage of the process, it was discovered that ceiling voids contained more beams than originally estimated, particularly in the office areas. British standards dictate that if beams occupy more than 10 percent of a void, it should be classified as a separate bay, each requiring its own detector.

Ultimately, this void detection identified 149 voids and resulted in the site requiring an additional 140 sensors. In total, the project would see approximately 500 devices installed on-site. In addition to fire alarms and the aspirating system, sounder beacons were deployed throughout production areas, and call points next to every fire escape.

Once plans were approved, the value of this in-depth specification process became clear. Not only did installation come in within budget, it was completed ahead of schedule. Steve Burgess at Britannia Fire & Security Ltd, said “Engineers love using Gent technology for two key reasons. First and foremost, it’s easy and intuitive to work with, ensuring smooth, error-free implementation. Second, the built-in intelligence it provides allows for sophisticated networking of systems, facilitating complex cause and effect protocols for optimised and automated site safety.”

The ELeather project involved significant, site-wide integration. The additional safety features this provided include automatic shutdown of lifts and gas in the event of an alarm. Moreover, high-speed shutters are activated to prevent the spread of fire throughout the facility. Requiring special commissioning engineers to install, the combination of Gent’s technology and Britannia Fire &Security Ltd expertise simplified these complicated IT requirements, providing ELeather with a best-in-class fire safety system for its new facility.

Since completion of the project, the site has been fully accredited, confirming compliance with all relevant standards.